As the regular season winds down, the NASCAR Cup Series returns to Watkins Glen International on August 10, 2025, for the Go Bowling at The Glen race. This event serves as the final road course challenge before the NASCAR Playoffs begin, making it a critical opportunity for drivers seeking to secure their postseason spots.
Key Details of the Go Bowling at The Glen Event
The race at Watkins Glen International, located in New York, is scheduled to start at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, with live coverage airing on the USA Network. The competition is divided into three stages consisting of 20, 40, and 90 laps. Chris Buescher enters as the defending champion, aiming to maintain his standing at this classic venue.
Complete Race Weekend Schedule
The buildup to the main race begins on Saturday, August 9, 2025, with a practice session at 12:05 p.m. ET, followed by qualifying at 1:10 p.m. ET. Both sessions will be broadcast on truTV. The race itself takes place on Sunday, August 10, at 2:00 p.m. ET on the USA Network.
The Final Road Course Contest of the Regular Season
Sunday’s race at Watkins Glen concludes a demanding stretch of road course events for the NASCAR Cup Series, which included four such races over nine contests. With only Richmond Raceway’s short track and the superspeedway at Daytona still remaining in the regular season, drivers outside the playoff spots recognize this event as a vital chance to win their way into the postseason.
Unlike last year, when Watkins Glen was part of the playoffs, its return to the regular season amplifies the stakes. For some drivers, this race might represent the last realistic opportunity to secure a wild card spot, potentially encouraging aggressive strategies and intense battles for position during the final stages.
Shane van Gisbergen’s Pursuit to Extend His Road Course Dominance
One of the standout stories this summer has been Shane van Gisbergen’s remarkable success on road courses. He has secured victories in each of the three road course races held so far—at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, the Chicago Street Course, and Sonoma Raceway—cementing his reputation as one of NASCAR’s finest road course specialists.
Van Gisbergen entered those races with strong qualifying performances, including poles, and looks to continue this dominance at Watkins Glen. Last year, he narrowly missed winning at this venue, finishing second to Chris Buescher in a closely contested finish. He also achieved a fifth-place finish in the NASCAR Xfinity Series event at Watkins Glen the previous year, highlighting his consistent performance at this track.
Watkins Glen’s Historic Role as a NASCAR Road Course
While van Gisbergen has excelled on the newer road courses added to the schedule in recent years, many in the NASCAR community view Watkins Glen as a traditional and balanced test for drivers. Unlike Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez and the Chicago Street Course, which are relatively new to the NASCAR Cup Series calendar, Watkins Glen has been a longstanding fixture in the sport.
Aside from a break in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Watkins Glen has appeared on the NASCAR schedule every year since 1986, giving numerous drivers extensive experience there. This vast familiarity potentially equalizes competition and may affect strategies differently than at some of the newer road course venues.
Implications for the NASCAR Playoffs and What Lies Ahead
With this being the last road course race before the playoffs, the outcome at Watkins Glen could significantly influence driver seeding and playoff qualification. The intense competition and high stakes are expected to bring out strategic gambles and spirited battles on track. After Watkins Glen, the NASCAR Cup Series regular season will conclude with races at Richmond Raceway and Daytona International Speedway, setting the stage for the upcoming playoff battles.